It took blood, sweat and a pinch in Stefan Savic’s private parts. But Atletico Madrid can prepare for the quarter-finals of the Champions League after penalties. Account of a spectacular evening (2-1) in Madrid.
Football advertisement. Perhaps something you do not immediately expect from a match between an Italian club and a team trained by Diego Simeone. But Inter and Atletico proved on Wednesday evening that it is possible.
Atletico, themselves having a poor season, had to recover from a 1-0 deficit in the first leg. No easy feat, certainly not against Inter, a team in form and clear leader in Serie A. So the Atletico fans knew what they had to do and united behind their team like one man – well, yes. Atmosphere.
The enthusiasm of the crowd inspired the home team. Atletico grabbed Inter by the throat. That resulted in a first chance after just five minutes. After a good rush on the left, Samuel Lino shot from an oblique angle, Sommer saved.
Inter tried to play calmly under the pressure of Atletico. Just before fifteen minutes, the patient build-up of the Italians also resulted in a first chance. After a good attack on the right, Denzel Dumfries came in front of Atletico’s goal. Oblak prevented the 0-1 with a double save. Moments later, Axel Witsel prevented another chance for the visitors with a good interception.
Just when the match seemed to die out just before the half hour mark, Alvaro Morata lit the fuse again with a good header. However, the first goal came on the other side. After a clever attack on the left, Barella put it back to the free-standing Dimarco from the edge of the sixteen. Inside.
Atletico did not appear to be upset. On the contrary. The Civitas Metropolitano pushed the home team forward again. Successfully. Koke tried to reach Griezmann from the edge of the box. The ball also ended up at the Frenchman’s feet via two Inter defenders. He put the 1-1 next to Sommer. Less than two minutes after the opening goal. Griezmann then missed a golden opportunity to give Atletico the lead just before half time. It could storm again in the second half.
Depay does what Griezmann cannot
Six minutes into the second half, Griezmann had another great opportunity. After a strong move by Llorente on the right, the Frenchman was able to shoot freely from about ten meters. Sommer was well in the corner, but Griezmann should always have finished it.
Atletico kept trying. But the biggest chances in the last half hour were for the visitors. Thuram and Barella shot too wildly over and too centrally respectively after good counters, much to the anger of their trainer Simone Inzaghi.
The Italian was right five minutes before the end. First, substitute Depay shot hard at the post, but a few seconds later it was worth it. After a good pass from Koke, the Dutchman turned away in the box and shot the 2-1 past Sommer. The lid on the nose. In the third minute of extra time, Riquelme, who also came on, missed the opportunity to make it 3-1.
The first big chance in extra time was again for the home team. After a cross from Riquelme, a good save from Sommer was needed to keep Depay from scoring his second goal. Inter squeezed them. Thuram even literally. Stefan Savic’s private parts to be precise.
Ultimately, no ball went in during extra time. And so penalties had to decide. Jan Oblak took no fewer than two, and Lautaro Martinez kicked one extremely high. Atletico to the quarter-finals. Party in Madrid. Arthur Vermeeren celebrated on the couch.
2024-03-13 22:44:00
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